Rocky Top Talk - Orange Carpet Recruiting WeekendHope Lives Herehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51389/rtt-fav.png2014-06-26T13:17:24-04:00http://www.rockytoptalk.com/rss/stream/55946092014-06-26T13:17:24-04:002014-06-26T13:17:24-04:00Scouting 3* TE commit Kyle Oliver
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<img alt="Expect an arm-wrestling contest between Oliver and Gibson over the jersey number." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/usFHW8XVhHnvTb0LaF5Elpo7nlY=/54x4:533x323/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34849933/6_1034923.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Expect an arm-wrestling contest between Oliver and Gibson over the jersey number. | <a href='247sports.com'>247 Sports</a></figcaption>
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<h4>Where did he come from?</h4>
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<p>"<a href="https://twitter.com/_KyleTheSmile_">@_KyleTheSmile_</a>: I have officially committed to THE University of Tennessee !! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VFL?src=hash">#VFL</a> <a href="http://t.co/8rehhE9tzl">pic.twitter.com/8rehhE9tzl</a>"</p>
— Tennessee Recruiting (@Tenn_Recruiting) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tenn_Recruiting/statuses/480915033740685313">June 23, 2014</a>
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<a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Kyle-Oliver-22986">Three star tight end Kyle Oliver</a> committed to Tennessee from Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he plays with another future Volunteer, Jack Jones. For those of you who aren't familiar with Tennessee high school football, Oakland and crosstown rival Riverdale are two of the largest and most successful football programs in the top division of public school football in the state.</p>
<h4>How did he end up at Tennessee?</h4>
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<p>Congrats to my boy <a href="https://twitter.com/_KyleTheSmile_">@_KyleTheSmile_</a> for committing to Utk today <a href="http://t.co/4F6hjRV4v2">pic.twitter.com/4F6hjRV4v2</a></p>
— justin martin (@Elite_made) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elite_made/statuses/481133622984851457">June 23, 2014</a>
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Oliver committed to the Vols as part of the Orange Carpet recruiting weekend, which he attended with fellow Murfreesboro residents and Vols commitments Jack Jones and Jauan Jennings. Oliver is part of another strong crop of in-state recruits, most of whom know each other from camps and in-season rivalries. He is friends with a number of other mid-state Tennessee targets like four star JUCO cornerback <span>Justin Martin</span> (from Nashville; pictured with Oliver above) and four star cornerback Cam Ordway (from Pulaski).</p>
<p>Oliver holds offers from thirteen top division programs and Michigan-killer Appalachian State, with a mixture of SEC (Tennessee, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Ole Miss), other major conference (Duke, Louisville, Purdue), and MAC-level (Bowling Green, Toledo, Western Kentucky, Eastern Michigan) offers. Florida State was also interested in Oliver after he attended one of their football camps, although the Seminoles had not extended an offer at the time he committed.</p>
<h4>How will he fit into the Tennessee offense?</h4>
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<p>Oliver is listed as a tight end by the recruiting services, but he does not play tight end for his high school team. Instead, he is a traditional split end, playing on the single wide receiver side of the formation outside the numbers. Physically, he is a lanky 6'5, 228 pounds, with a large wingspan and a frame capable of carrying significantly more weight. On film, Oliver is a long-striding player without the speed or quickness to consistently get separation from SEC-level defensive backs. However, he has elite downfield blocking skills, showing both strength and tenacity in burying players he is assigned to block. Oliver also shows good recognition and body control, using his massive frame to shield smaller, quicker defenders from the ball. He has strong hands and good concentration, high-pointing the ball in the air and holding on even with defenders draped all over him. With proper nutrition and time in the strength program, Oliver should mature into an SEC-level contributor as a receiving threat. If he embraces the transition from the outside to the trenches, he could emerge as a complete tight end, pairing good receiving skills with the power and size to succeed as an in-line blocker.</p>
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https://www.rockytoptalk.com/2014/6/26/5845900/tennessee-scouting-report-tight-end-kyle-oliverHunter Turner2014-06-23T15:34:03-04:002014-06-23T15:34:03-04:00LB Smith commits to UT over Dawgs and Tigers.
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<figcaption>Welcome to the Hill, Austin! | <a href='http://media.247sports.com'>247 Sports</a></figcaption>
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<h4>Where did he come from?</h4>
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<p>Proud to say I'm a 2015 commit!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23VOLS&src=hash">#VOLS</a> <a href="http://t.co/r6JOsgCr6R">pic.twitter.com/r6JOsgCr6R</a></p>
— Austin Smith #11 (@AustinZSmith24) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinZSmith24/statuses/480728206186541056">June 22, 2014</a>
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<a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Austin-Smith-29301">Austin Smith</a> committed to Tennessee out of Buford High School in Georgia, a powerhouse program that has sent numerous players to BCS programs, including <a href="http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2014/6/21/5830574/Picou-commits-to-Tennessee-Vols">fellow Vol commit Quay Picou</a>.</p>
<h4>How did he end up at Tennessee?</h4>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Tennessee&src=hash">#Tennessee</a> <a href="http://t.co/FPzqhM5Dta">pic.twitter.com/FPzqhM5Dta</a></p>
— Isaac Nauta (@inauta24) <a href="https://twitter.com/inauta24/statuses/480470734741835776">June 21, 2014</a>
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Smith had more than eighteen major college offers, including Alabama, Florida, Miami, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, but was widely thought to be headed to either Georgia or LSU. Smith was apparently very impressed with the Tennessee facilities and the team atmosphere, telling 247 Sports, "Family was a big thing for me, and I felt like family was here." <sup><a href="#fn1" id="ref1">1</a></sup> As with fellow Orange Carpet weekend commit Alvin Kamara, Smith specifically mentioned the importance of playing with fellow Georgia native and current Tennessee wide receiver Jason Croom, who must be majoring in recruiting.<sup><a href="#fn2" id="ref2">2</a></sup></p>
<h4>How will he fit into the Tennessee defense?</h4>
<p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/3339810/highlights/85493380" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640"></iframe> Smith is listed at a shade under 6'4 and 230 pounds in his 247 Sports profile, but looks significantly lighter than that on film. With time in the Tennessee strength and conditioning program, Smith will probably fill out to the 240 pound range. Depending on his physical development, he could stay at outside linebacker or move forward to a defensive line position.</p>
<p>A speedy outside linebacker with good range, Smith appears equally comfortable rushing the passer off the edge or covering tight ends down the field. Smith plays for a powerhouse program in the top division of Georgia high school football, but still stands out on film despite playing against other well coached BCS prospects.</p>
<p>Smith is rated a middling three stars (and the 67th best OLB) by the 247 Composite, but his offer list shows that college coaches believe he is an elite prospect. The discrepancy is probably explained by the impression that Smith is not a finished prospect from a physical maturity standpoint: he could easily add additional weight, and it's tough to project what position he'll eventually end up at.</p>
<p><sup id="fn1">1. 247 Sports: <a href="http://tennessee.247sports.com/Article/Three-star-Ga-LB-Austin-Smith-joins-Tennessee-Vols-family-29263816">Smith joins 'family' at Tennessee.</a><a href="#ref1" title="Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.">↩</a></sup> <sup id="fn2"></sup></p>
<p><sup id="fn2">2. Sample class: <i>Recruiting 104: An Introduction to Celebratory Chest Bumps</i> taught by former UT assistant coach Trooper Taylor.<a href="#ref2" title="Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.">↩</a></sup></p>
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https://www.rockytoptalk.com/2014/6/23/5835290/Austin-Smith-commits-to-Tennessee-VolsHunter Turner2014-06-21T15:56:04-04:002014-06-21T15:56:04-04:00Picou commits to the Vols
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<p><b>Where did he come from?</b></p>
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<p>Flexing & finessing with <a href="https://twitter.com/inauta24">@inauta24</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/qpicou9">@qpicou9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23VOLS&src=hash">#VOLS</a> <a href="http://t.co/19DafdIehq">pic.twitter.com/19DafdIehq</a></p>
— Austin Smith #11 (@AustinZSmith24) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustinZSmith24/statuses/480459104725381120">June 21, 2014</a>
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<p>High three star defensive tackle <a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Quay-Picou-34209">Quay Picou</a> committed to the Vols this afternoon from powerhouse Buford High School in Georgia.</p>
<h4>How did he end up at Tennessee?</h4>
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<p>Three-star DT Quay Picou claims his top four schools right now are <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23OhioState&src=hash">#OhioState</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Miami&src=hash">#Miami</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cincinnati&src=hash">#Cincinnati</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TAMU&src=hash">#TAMU</a>. <a href="http://t.co/sM2D1bBYiQ">http://t.co/sM2D1bBYiQ</a></p>
— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) <a href="https://twitter.com/rivalsmike/statuses/461194366561038336">April 29, 2014</a>
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<p>Picou's commitment was surprising, considering that he had listed a top four of Ohio State, Miami, Cincinnati, and Texas A&M as recently as the end of April. According to fellow SBNation blog Land Grant Holy Land, the Buckeyes were considered the heavy favorite to land Picou, because he grew up in Cincinnati and attended traditional Ohio State feeder school Moeller High School until his family moved to Georgia (for more, check out LGHL's excellent profile: <a href="http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2014/4/27/5658282/ohio-state-recruiting-2015-dl-quay-picou-has-buckeyes-at-the-top">Picou has Buckeyes on top after offer</a>).</p>
<p>However, Picou was blown away by the Tennessee facilities while attending the Orange Carpet recruiting event in Knoxville with Buford High teammates linebacker Austin Smith (who also committed to Tennessee) and tight end Isaac Nauta (who received an offer for 2016).</p>
<h4>How will he fit into the Tennessee defense?</h4>
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<p>Picou plays all along the defensive line for his high school, lining up at the nose, as a traditional tackle, and at end. On film, he shows flashes of disruptive ability, and consistently holds up at the point of attack against double teams. He's currently a bit of a defensive line tweener, with 247 Sports listing him at a stout 6'3 and 287 pounds, while both Rival and Scout have him significantly lighter at 6'3 and 260 pounds. Whatever the case, Picou looks like he has the frame to add good weight up to the 290-300 pound range with time in the Tennessee strength and conditioning program.
Picou is a high three star player and the 25th best defensive tackle in the 247 Composite, and a four star player and the 23rd best defensive tackle by the 247 recruiting service. Tennessee is likely to take at least three defensive tackles in the 2015 class and are among the top contenders for five stars Kahlil McKenzie, DJ Jones, Tim Settle, and Shy Tuttle. Nevertheless, Picou is the kind of solid SEC prospect the Vols have missed out on in recent years.</p>
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https://www.rockytoptalk.com/2014/6/21/5830574/Picou-commits-to-Tennessee-VolsHunter Turner2014-06-21T15:26:43-04:002014-06-21T15:26:43-04:00Orange Carpet Recruiting Updates
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<img alt="Marquez North demonstrates how to land a magic (Orange) carpet" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vE1FTxiQ8qIlJhUXghfhMOONhrM=/0x8:4000x2675/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34636999/20131005_mje_ab2_069.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marquez North demonstrates how to land a magic (Orange) carpet | Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>"Well, you don't know what we can find // Why don't you come with me recruits // On a magic (Orange) carpet ride"</p> <p>It's football recruiting time in Tennessee, and Knoxville is hosting a bevvy of elite recruits, including in-state cornerback Cameron Ordway, in-state wide receiver Van Jefferson, linebacker Quarte Sapp, cornerback Micah Abernathy, all purpose back Bryce Love, safety Nigel Warrior (2016), offensive tackle Ryan Johnson (2016), and many more. Butch Jones is taking full advantage of the camp season to show off the Vols' world-class football facilities, and the excitement is palpable.</p>
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<p>We'll be updating the storystream as more commitments come in, with the Vols rising to <a href="http://247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/CompositeTeamRankings">seventh in the 247 Composite for 2015</a> with this morning's addition of four star running back <span>Alvin Kamara</span>, high three star defensive tackle Quay Picou, and three star linebacker Austin Smith.</p>
https://www.rockytoptalk.com/2014/6/21/5830556/Orange-Carpet-recruiting-weekend-updatesHunter Turner